Determination of long-lived radionuclides at ultratrace level using advance mass spectrometric techniques

Zoriy, Myroslav

Dissertation / PhD Thesis/Book

Determination of long-lived radionuclides at ultratrace level using advance mass spectrometric techniques

Zoriy, M. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2005
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Zentralbibliothek, Verlag Jülich

Jülich : Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Zentralbibliothek, Verlag, Berichte des Forschungszentrums Jülich 4187, VI, 117 p. (2005) = Prag, Univ., Diss., 2005

Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/551

Report No.: Juel-4187

Abstract: Determination of long-lived radionuclides at sub-fg concentration level is a challenging task in analytical chemistry. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with its ability to provide the sensitive and fast multielemental analysis is one of the most suitable method for the measurements of long lived radionuclides in the trace and ultra trace concentration range. In present the Ph.D. study a variety of procedures have been developed permitting the sub fg ml$^{-1}$ determination of long-lived adionuclides (e.g. U, Th, Pu) as well as $^{226}$Ra (T$_{1/2}$ = 1600 y) and $^{90}$Sr (T$_{1/2}$= 28.1 y) in different samples. In order to avoid isobaric interferences, to increase the sensitivity, precision and accuracy of the methods the application of different techniques: pre-concentration of the sample, off-line separation on the crown resin, measurements under cold plasma conditions, using microconcentric nebulizers (e.g DIHEN, DS-5) or the application of LA-ICP-MS for sample introduction have been studied. The limits of detection for different radionuclides was significantly improved in comparison to the ones reported in the literature, and, depending on the method applied, was varied from 10$^{-15}$ to 10$^{-18}$ g ml$^{-1}$ concentration range. For instance, the LOD for $^{239}$Pu in 1 l of urine, based on an enrichment factor (due to the Ca$_{3}$(PO$_{4}$)$_{2}$ co-precipitation) of 100 for PFA-100 nebulizer and 1000 for DIHEN, were 9×10$^{18}$ and 1.02×10$^{18}$ g ml$^{1}$, respectively. $^{239}$Pu was detected (after the enrichment) in 100L of the Sea of Galilee at a concentration level of about 3.6 × 10$^{-19}$g ml$^{-1}$ with a $^{240}$Pu/$^{239}$Pu isotope ratio of 0.17. This measured plutonium isotope ratio is the most probable evidence of plutonium contamination of the Sea of Galilee as a result of global nuclear fallout after the nuclear weapons tests in the sixties. [...]

Note: Record converted from VDB: 12.11.2012
Note: Prag, Univ., Diss., 2005

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